Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Interesting Information on Blue Whale


The Blue whale is the largest animal to have ever lived on earth, even bigger than any dinosaur, and they can live up to 80 years or more.

Blue whales do not have teeth. Hanging down from the upper jaw are Baleen plates which look like the frayed bristles of a giant hairbrush and are used to sieve food from seawater.

When a blue whale eats, the pleats or grooves on its throat and belly expand to allow it to gulp huge watery mouthfuls of tiny, shrimp like crustaceans called Krill. Water is then forced out between the baleen plates and the food caught on the hairy fringes is then swallowed.

Due to their large size and speed, blue whales were not hunted by early whalers but were the first species to be taken by the modern whaling industry especially in the 1930's. They were then over-exploited and the population drastically reduced to near extinction. Figures suggest that today there are less than 500 in the Southern hemisphere and approximately 4,000 worldwide, out of an original population of over 200,000. Because they are an endangered species blue whales became protected in the 1960s.

The only other known predator of the blue whale is the Killer (Orca) whale. Even though the killer whale is much smaller, this does not stop organized packs or pods of them from harassing and attacking blue whales.

Blue whales are found in all oceans of the world. Being an open ocean species they are not seen near the coast but mainly in the deeper waters off the continental shelves and ice edges.

Identification

Measuring up to 30 meters long (one was recorded at 33 meters) and weighing between 100 - 200 tones, their tongue can weigh as much as an elephant and the heart is the size of a small car. The body is long and streamlined and the straight blow can reach a height of 9 meters.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The core measures to prevent cancer

The Key to lung Cancer Prevention
Don’t Smoke
Tobacco use is the major cause of lung cancer in the United States. About 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in women in this country are due to smoking. The most important thing a person can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking, or to quit if he or she currently smokes.Quitting smoking will lower risk of lung cancer compared to not quitting. This is true no matter how old one is or how much he or she

Avoid Secondhand Smoke

Make Your Home and Workplace Safer
Test for radon. Radon detectors can be purchased or arrangements can be made for qualified testers to come into the home. Health and safety guidelines in the workplace can help workers avoid things that can cause cancer (carcinogens).

Eat Lots of Fruits and Vegetables
Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables may help protect against lung cancer.

The Key to Skin Cancer Prevention
Most skin cancers can be prevented if children and teens (and adults, too) are protected from ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Just a few serious sunburns can increase your child's risk of skin cancer later in life. Kids don't have to be at the beach to get too much sun. Their skin needs protection from the sun's harmful UV rays whenever they're outdoors.

To protect yourself and your family—
• Seek shade, especially during midday hours.
• Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
• Put on sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.

The UV rays from tanning beds and sunlamps are as dangerous as the UV rays from the sun. Don't let your children or teens use them. Many states restrict the use of tanning beds by children and teens.

A Vaccine to Prevent Cervical Cancer
Human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that can be passed from one person to another during sex, is the main cause of cervical cancer. The same virus also causes many vaginal and vulvar cancers.

A vaccine to prevent HPV infections is available. It protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cancer. It is given in a series of three shots. The vaccine is recommended for girls 11 and 12 years old, and for girls and women 13 to 26 years old who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. (Girls as young as age 9 can get the vaccine.)
Parents: Help protect your daughters against cervical cancer. Make sure they get the HPV vaccine

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Info about ozone layer depletion

The ozone hole over the Antarctic forms each year in August as the Southern Hemisphere summer begins, eventually dissipating by November. Found throughout the Earth’s atmo¬sphere, ozone is particularly rich in the lower stratosphere, a region commonly referred to as the ozone layer, between about 10 and 30 kilometers above the planet’s surface. (The layer of atmosphere just below the stratosphere is the troposphere, where we live and breathe.) The ozone layer blocks harmful ultraviolet rays linked to skin cancer.

The hole is the result of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other chlorine- and bromine-containing gases interacting with two naturally occurring phenomena in the stratosphere. One is the polar vortex, a sort of atmospheric cyclone above Antarctica that is strongest in winter when temperatures are below negative 80 degrees Celsius. The other is polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), or nacreous clouds when visible, that also form in the extreme polar winter.

The PSCs provide an excellent chemical platform for setting chlorine and bromine free to run amok and destroy ozone in the presence of sunlight. The vortex then circulates the ozone-destroying chemicals quickly until it weakens later in the summer.

CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances were used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays and refrigerants, slowly creeping from the surface into the atmosphere. However, most countries have largely discontinued the use of CFCs thanks to the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty signed in 1987 to protect atmospheric ozone.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Tips to make fruit more appealing

Many fruits taste great with a dip or dressing. Try low-fat yogurt or pudding as a dip for fruits like strawberries or melons.

Make a fruit smoothie by blending fat-free or low-fat milk or yogurt with fresh or frozen fruit. Try bananas, peaches, strawberries, or other berries.

Try applesauce as a fat-free substitute for some of the oil when baking cakes.

Try different textures of fruits. For example, apples are crunchy, bananas are smooth and creamy, and oranges are juicy.

For fresh fruit salads, mix apples, bananas, or pears with acidic fruits like oranges, pineapple, or lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Tata introduces new scheme in call rate

The new scheme pay per call introduced by Tata is more beneficial. The scheme includes the following things-

Each local call cost is Rs 1 for 10 min and each STD cost is Rs 3 for 10 min.
This offer is only for those who purchase of a new handset of Tata Indicom network.
If sim is used with old used handsets, the cost is Rs 1 per minute for a Local calls and Rs 1.50 per minute for STD Calls. Local SMS cost Rs1 per message and National SMS cost Rs 1.50 per message.
As a special offer, customers will gain from an extended pulse of 3600 seconds for all local calls for the first 15 days from date of activation.
Rental charges are included, daily rental charges about Rs 1 per day.
This pay per call plan can not be tied with any other special offers which have free talk time or free minutes built in.

Friday, August 28, 2009

3 giants join their hands against Google

The three giants Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo join their hands to sign up the Open Book Alliance.

They go up against a legal resolution that could make Google the main basis for several online works.

In 2008, the search giant reached many publishers and authors to resolve two lawsuits that gave the company with copyright infringement for the unauthorized scanning of books.

In that decision, Google paid $125 million to create a Book Rights Registry, the authors and publishers received compensation.

Google might also be given the right to digitize unknown works i.e. whose rights-holders are not known and there are believed to be 50-70% of books published after 1923.

Explanation on the deal has to be lodged by 4 September. In early October, a judge will think whether to approve the class-action suit or not.

On the other side, the US Department of Justice is performing an anti-trust analysis into the impact of the agreement.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Importance of Physical activities

Regular exercise and physical activity are important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including older adults. Being physically active can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age. Regular physical activity over long periods of time can produce long-term health benefits. That’s why health experts say that older adults should be active every day to maintain their health.

In addition, regular exercise and physical activity can reduce the risk of developing some diseases and disabilities that develop as people grow older. In some cases, exercise is an effective treatment for many chronic conditions. For example, studies show that people with arthritis, heart disease, or diabetes benefit from regular exercise. Exercise also helps people with high blood pressure, balance problems, or difficulty walking.

One of the great things about physical activity is that there are so many ways to be active. For example, you can be active in short spurts throughout the day, or you can set aside specific times of the day on specific days of the week to exercise. Many physical activities — such as brisk walking, raking leaves, or taking the stairs whenever you can — are free or low cost and do not require special equipment. You could also check out an exercise video from the library or use the fitness center at a local senior center.

This guide shows you many types of exercise and physical activity. It also has lots of tips to help you be active in ways that suit your lifestyle, interests, health, and budget, whether you’re just starting out, getting back to exercising after a break, or fit enough to run a 3-mile race. It’s for everyone — peoples who are healthy and those who live with an ongoing health problem or disability.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Do things that you enjoy to reduce weight

Physical activity can be fun! Do things you enjoy, like:

  • dancing
  • rollerblading
  • fast walking
  • playing sports
  • bicycling
  • swimming
  • group fitness classes, such as dance or aerobics

If you can, be physically active with a friend or a group. That way, you can cheer each other on, have a good time while being active, and feel safer when you are outdoors. Find a local school track or park where you can walk or run with your friends, or join a recreation center so you can work out or take a fun fitness class together.

Think you do not have time for physical activity? The good news is that you can be active for short periods of time throughout the day and still benefit. When fitting in physical activity, remember that any activity is better than none. So try to move more by making these small changes to your daily routine:

  • Get off the bus or subway one stop early and walk the rest of the way (be sure the area is safe).
  • Park your car farther away and walk to your destination.
  • Walk to each end of the mall when you go shopping.
  • Take the stairs rather than the elevator or escalator (make sure the stairs have working lights).
  • Put physical activity on your to-do list for the day. For example, plan on exercising right after work, before you can get distracted by dinner or going out.

Friday, August 07, 2009

Water Dragons

Water Dragons can be up to 1 meter, with long powerful legs and claws. Their tail forms 2/3 of their length and is almost all muscle. It is laterally compressed to help act like an oar when swimming. The Water Dragon has a nuchal crest – a central row of enlarged spikey spines at the back of the head. These spikes continue down the spine, decreasing in size to the base of the tail. At the tail the spines divide into two rows.

The Water Dragon’s upper body is a grey-green with cream and black transverse bands on the body and tail. Underneath the body is creamy brown-grey. They have loose folds of skin under the jaw, giving them an almost Bearded Dragon appearance.

Water Dragons as their name suggests are semi-aquatic lizards. They spend a lot of time perching in trees along creeks and rivers. At any sign of danger they will dive into the water and either remain underwater or swim away. Water Dragons have been known to remain underwater for up to 90 minutes. Water Dragons when underwater slow their heart rate and conduct some gas exchange across their skin, both O2 and CO2.

Water Dragons at slow speeds run on all four legs, but to increase their running speed they can run on their back legs only (bipedal). Their long powerful back legs and sharp claws help in their abilities to climb trees and dig holes for hibernation and nesting.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Talking cars coming soon

Talking cars aren't science fiction anymore -- thanks to scientists who have developed a set of algorithms that will allow robotic cars of the future to communicate with each other to help avoid collisions.

An international team, led by Indian-origin scientists Dr Bhibhya Sharma and Dr Utesh Chand of the University of the South Pacific, has developed the mathematical equations which would also instruct robotic cars how to change lanes safely.

According to Dr Sharma, the series of mathematical equations would instruct robotic cars when and how to merge lanes, which could lead to less accidents and ease traffic congestions.

"Flocking is a biologically inspired technique and a strategy commonly used in robotics. One of the advantages of flocking is that robots can work together and achieve what would take individuals far longer," he said.

In fact, according to the scientists, each car will be controlled by a centralised brain guided by a series of algorithms.

The brains will talk to each other and instruct the cars to merge lanes and move in formation together. The team demonstrated the technique using computer simulation and is currently trialling it in two wheel robots.

Team member Dr Chand has said that the cars have targets they move towards and maintain and when the cars find themselves in a merging situation, one of them will be given the position of leader, the rest will follow.

The team has written equations for attraction towards the target, enabling cars to stay inside their lanes and avoid crashing into each other.

The challenge now is to allow the robot to automatically plan how to avoid crashing with the side of the road and cars travelling close by, they said.


Source: http://business.gov.in/

Thursday, July 09, 2009

World-Class Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory By 2012

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory announced today that it is beginning construction of the conventional facilities at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), a project that will advance energy research for the nation and create hundreds of jobs for Long Island over the next several years. Energy Secretary Steven Chu visited the laboratory earlier this year and announced $150 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the facility, some of which went towards accelerating the construction of NSLS-II.
NSLS-II will be an advanced, highly optimized, third-generation medium energy storage ring that will provide sophisticated, new tools for discovery-class science – science that will enhance national and energy security and help drive abundant, safe, and clean energy technologies. The x-ray brightness and resolution of NSLS-II will be world leading, exceeding that of any other light source currently existing or under construction, and it will be 10,000 times brighter than the present light source at Brookhaven Lab.


Torcon, Inc., a New Jersey firm with many projects in New York State, has been chosen to construct the building that will house the accelerator ring, the largest component of the machine. Torcon estimates that 90 percent of the total construction contract cost of more than $170 million will be spent directly with Long Island contractors and suppliers. This phase of the facility’s construction is expected to last through 2012.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

INCREASED THINNING OF WEST ANTARCTIC GLACIERS

Glaciers in West Antarctica are shrinking at a rate substantially higher than observed in the 1990s. They are losing 60 percent more ice into the Amundsen Sea than they accumulate from inland snowfall.
The study was conducted by a science team from NASA, U.S. universities and from the Centro de Estudios Científicos in Chile. It is based on satellite data and comprehensive measurements made in 2002 by a science team aboard a Chilean P-3 aircraft equipped with NASA sensors. Science Express published the findings today.
The ice loss from the measured glaciers corresponds to an annual sea-level rise of .008 inches (.2 millimeters) or more than 10 percent of the total global increase of about .07 inches (1.8 millimeters) per year.
For a balanced glacial system, the amount of glacier ice melting or flowing into the sea roughly equals the ice formed from snow accumulations further inland. The scientists report the Amundsen Sea glaciers are not in balance.
Bob Thomas, a science team member with EG&G Services at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va., commented that as the glaciers flow to the ocean, they become afloat to form ice shelves. "The ice shelves act like a cork and slow down the flow of the glacier," Thomas said.
The scientists noted the earth underneath the ice is further below sea level than had been assumed, so the ice is thicker than once thought. This increases the amount of ice each glacier can discharge into the ocean as its speed increases. It makes it easier for the thinning glacier to float free from its bed, and thus further 'loosen the cork'," Thomas said.
Thomas said in the last 10 years the ability to accurately measure glaciers worldwide has greatly improved. Measurements from aircraft and satellites like NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), launched in 2003, have greatly improved accuracy.

Source-NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2004/0923westglaciers_prt.htm

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Evolution of the computer keyboard

The creation of the present computer keyboard began with the invention of the typewriter. A few important technological developments created the change of the typewriter into the computer keyboard. The teletype machine was introduced in the 1930s; this technology combined the technology of the typewriter (used as an input and a printing device) with the telegraph. Elsewhere, punched card systems were combined with typewriters to create keypunches. Keypunches were the basis of early adding machines and IBM was selling over one million dollars worth of adding machines in 1931.

Early computer keyboards were first equipped from the punch card and teletype technologies. In 1946, the Eniac computer used a punched card reader as its input and output device. In 1948, the Binac computer used an electromechanically controlled typewriter to in cooperation input data directly onto magnetic tape and to print results. The emerging electric typewriter additional improved the technological tie-up between the typewriter and the computer. There were many electromechanical steps in transmitting data between the keyboard and the computer that slowed things down. With electric keyboards, the keyboard's keys might now send electronic impulses straight to the computer and save time. By the late ‘70s and early on ‘80s, the entire computers used electronic keyboards and VDTs